Guy
Mike Baker, 32, of Indio and his friend, Paul
Munsee took a hike uphill from the Fuller Mill
Creek area on September 6, the Sunday of Labor
Day Weekend. Guy and Paul had hiked up a trace of
a trail off to one side of a very steep canyon.
Upon returning the two chose to come down the
center of the canyon rather than follow the
trail. Guy encountered a 40 foot waterfall and
tried to climb down it. Although the steep rocky
slope was dry, the rock was water polished, and
Mr. Baker slid down the near vertical slope
landing on his right ankle. When Paul saw the
fate of his hiking companion he chose a safer
route to go and get help.

Mr.
Munsee contacted the Pine Cove Volunteer Fire
Department, the agency with jurisdiction for
medical problems in that area. Volunteers from
Pine Cove Fire Department were able to reach Mr.
Baker and administer first aid, but they did not
have enough manpower to extricate the victim. At
this point, about 11 AM, RMRU was called out.

Bud
White and the author were assigned as a bash team
to assess what further materials would be needed
to safely evacuate Mr. Baker. On our arrival the
subject had a compound fracture of the right
ankle that had been well splinted, some scrapes
and bruises, but no other injuries. Mr. Baker lay
at the bottom of a 40 foot waterfall with steep
slick rock on three sides and another waterfall
below on the fourth side. Under the author's
direction paramedic Chuck Benson inserted an
intravenous line and gave the subject morphine
for pain.

Bud White meanwhile devised
a plan for raising Mr. Baker and radioed out for
the additional necessary supplies. With
volunteers from RMRU and the Pine Cove Fire
Department, Guy Baker was strapped into the
stokes litter and raised out of the canyon
bottom, and in stages, brought over to the narrow
path he had hiked up. At numerous points the
going was tight and steep, so other team members
were repeatedly setting up anchors and belays to
make sure there would be no further problems.

Using
the wheeled litter Mr. Baker was transported to
Highway 243 where a Pine Cove Fire Department
ambulance was waiting. Mr. Baker was taken
directly to Hemet Valley Hospital and underwent
orthopedic surgery that evening. This mission
demonstrated the benefits of good cooperation
between agencies, each contributing its
expertise.